Prisoner arrives in Bali for Corby trial

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A Victorian prisoner who will give testimony at the trial of
accused drug smuggler Schapelle Corby has arrived in Bali.

John Patrick Ford, a remand prisoner, was escorted by
Corrections Victoria staff on the flight, which arrived between 4
and 5pm AEST, a Corrections Victoria spokeswoman said today.

He was being taken to the Denpasar lockup, she said.

The way has been cleared for prisoner John Patrick Ford to be
flown to Bali to give evidence on Corby's behalf when her trial
resumes on Tuesday.

Corby, a Gold Coast beauty school student, is accused of
attempting to smuggle 4.1kg of marijuana into Indonesia, after the
drugs were found in her boogie board bag at Bali's Denpasar airport
last October.

She could face the death penalty if found guilty.

Mr Ruddock urged Corby's backers and others to tone down their
strident claims in the media.

''One of the things that we feel very strongly about in
Australia is that our courts should be able to make their own
judgments in relation to these matters, without influence by
publicity and people using the media,'' Mr Ruddock told the Nine
Network.

''We expect that in relation to Australian matters.

''What I've been surprised about is the extent to which, in this
case, there has been a lot of campaigning through the media which,
at the end of the day, makes it very much more difficult for the
court to be able to deal with the range of issues it's going to
have before it.''

Mr Ruddock also deflected criticism of the government's role in
the case, accusing her legal team of being tardy in pressing for
assistance.

''Only one day before the proceedings, to be initiating a
request (for Ford's clearance), suggests to me some inactivity,''
he said.

Corby has maintained her innocence and her lawyers say Ford's
evidence will be crucial to her case.

Meanwhile, Ford's ex-wife Rita said she was proud of him for
offering his testimony but was worried about his safety.

She said there was no benefit for him in travelling to Bali to
testify and that she was very proud of him.

''You worry about people who are close to you,'' she said.

''Of course I am (worried) and I think everyone in Australia
should be.''
Ford has signed an affidavit naming three people who allegedly
traffic drugs through Australian airports.

He claimed he overheard a conversation between two drug
traffickers who had said some drugs had been put in the wrong bag
or on the wrong flight.
Ms Ford said her ex-husband wanted to try to help Corby.